PLANS to settle Cricket matches with a game of darts, skittles or bar billiards has been greeted with mixed feelings from clubs competing in a national competition.

The Foot and Mouth epidemic has caused havoc with local sport so organisers of the National Village Cricket Competition have come up with alternative ways of completing fixtures -- by playing pub games!

Local clubs Foulridge, Salesbury, Ribchester and Withnell Fold are all competing in the competition which culminates with a final played at Lords.

But to stand any chance of getting to the home of cricket, they may have to be prepared to down their bat and pads and pick up the darts.

All of the local clubs have been sent a circular by The Cricketer magazine, the organiser of the Wadworth 6X sponsored competition.

Fred Brooker-Carey of Foulridge said: "We do not think it is an appropriate way to settle matches and I am sure there are other alternatives such as playing indoor cricket at a local leisure centre."

However, Steve Harwood of Withnell Fold Cricket Club said his side would be prepared to settle matches away from the crease.

He said: "The whole purpose of the competition is to meet other teams so if we were unable to play our match because of Foot and Mouth then I would be happy to play a game of darts to settle the outcome."

Luckily for local clubs, they have not had to come up with an alternative to cricket as yet.

Ribchester were scheduled to play up at Silverdale in South Cumbria. But with their ground out of bounds the match has been switched to East Lancashire.

Secretary Robert Brooks said: "Initially we thought it was a very bad idea because I can't imagine teams wanting to make a 60 mile trip just to play darts or skittles.

"But I suppose for the sake of the competition it is something we would have to be prepared to do."

Craven and District League side Pendle Forest are another club who can use their own ground -- despite being next to farmland.

Andrew Townsend said: "We had to check with the local farmer first before deciding to go ahead with our matches. The ball often ends up in his fields so the last thing we wanted to do run the risk of spreading the disease.

"But he has given us the go-ahead to carry on as normal."